The most important, most-anticipated recreation of the season thus far took some time, however No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 4 Alabama finally lived as much as the hype — then exceeded it. The Crimson Tide’s barnburner of a win is the clear headliner from Saturday, however as is all the time the case, there was loads of drama elsewhere. It began with a controversially overturned Hail Mary in Miami’s win in opposition to Virginia Tech on Friday evening and continued throughout a loss by No. 10 Utah that crept into Sunday morning for a lot of the United States.
The 12-team School Soccer Playoff race continues to hover over all of it, as an SEC big stumbled, top-10 groups tumbled, and UNLV put an exclamation level on the tip of a bizarre, wild week.
Listed below are 5 CFP-related classes from Week 5:
1. Alabama wins an on the spot traditional
It’s not usually {that a} staff can declare a comeback victory after leaping out to a 28-0 lead. Add it to the lengthy record of memorable moments from Alabama’s 41-34 win, a recreation with 1,066 yards of whole offense, a pair of Heisman-candidate quarterbacks and 177 yards on six catches for Alabama freshman phenom Ryan Williams, who, you could have heard, is barely 17 years outdated.
The Crimson Tide silenced questions on how they’d carry out with out legendary coach Nick Saban on the sideline once they sprinted forward with 4 consecutive landing drives, however issues went off the rails within the second half as Georgia stormed again. Ultimately, it was a white-knuckle signature win for Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer in his first SEC recreation, a heartbreaking loss for Kirby Good and the Bulldogs, and a consequence that reiterated these are two of the most effective groups within the sport.
Alabama and Georgia each belong in that tip-top tier with Texas and Ohio State (till the Buckeyes play an opponent adequate to point in any other case). That doesn’t imply issues will keep that method, particularly within the gantlet of the SEC, the place whichever two groups attain the convention title recreation may have earned it. The Tide nonetheless have Missouri and highway journeys to Tennessee, LSU and Oklahoma forward on the schedule, whereas Georgia has journeys to Texas and Ole Miss and will get Tennessee at residence. There’s a good probability neither will wind up taking part in within the league championship.
For now, nonetheless, Alabama appears like the most effective staff within the nation and could also be ranked as such on Sunday, supplanting Texas for the No. 1 spot. The Bulldogs shouldn’t drop too far, both.
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2. Notre Dame provides well timed reminder that it’s a protracted season
All of us poured chilly water on the Irish after their Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois, and rightfully so. However they’ve bounced again for 3 consecutive wins, together with Saturday’s 31-24 dispatching of No. 15 Louisville, on high of Week 1’s victory at Texas A&M.
It’s an analogous story for Clemson, which was bulldozed by Georgia within the opener and has since logged three blowouts in a row. Each groups nonetheless have work to do so as to be ok with their Playoff spot, and Notre Dame’s path should be as an at-large. However their misguided early dismissal is necessary to recollect when contemplating Ole Miss, which seemed like a paper tiger in Saturday’s 20-17 residence loss to Kentucky. Similar for Utah, which fell 23-10 to Arizona with backup Isaac Wilson beginning once more at quarterback. Or LSU, which flopped in opposition to USC in Week 1 however hasn’t misplaced since.
It’s straightforward to be a prisoner of the second, significantly in a sport the place a nasty or surprising loss at this level within the season has traditionally been a loss of life rattle for Playoff hopes. These days are gone. Notre Dame nonetheless has to play at USC to finish the common season, and a loss to anybody else alongside the best way may hold it on the skin trying in, however in no way is it out of it: Our projections gave the Irish a 37 p.c probability to make the sphere earlier than defeating Louisville.
As unhealthy as Ole Miss is feeling right this moment, loads can change in a number of weeks.
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3. The Large 12 chaos is actual, and it’s spectacular
Add Kansas State again to that ever-sliding scale of Playoff hopefuls. The Wildcats adopted final week’s humbling 38-9 loss to BYU with a 42-20 thumping of Oklahoma State. Quarterback Avery Johnson had probably the most full recreation of his younger profession, throwing for greater than 250 yards and accounting for 5 whole touchdowns. It completely encapsulated a Large 12 that already has havoc within the convention standings.
Ok-State’s bounce-back win retains it within the combine and means an 0-2 begin to league play for Oklahoma State, which performed for a Large 12 championship final season and was anticipated to compete for it once more. Elsewhere, Utah took an L because the curious case of Cam Rising’s absence drags on. Meaning the highest 4 groups within the convention’s preseason ballot have already got a league loss. That features a Kansas staff that’s 0-2 and 1-4 total after a loss to TCU, however doesn’t embrace BYU, which held on to beat Baylor and enhance to 5-0. Iowa State has began 4-0 for the primary time since 2000.
It’s anarchy, and whereas which may not assist the Large 12 land a number of spots within the 12-team area come December, it’s already as enjoyable as marketed.
Up subsequent for Kansas State, by the best way? An idle week adopted by a visit to Colorado to face the 4-1 Buffs (2-0 Large 12) and Travis Hunter’s billowing Heisman marketing campaign.
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4. The Group of 5 race is a giant tent
Navy! James Madison! Sam Houston State! UNLV! Anybody who argued in opposition to G5 entry to the Playoff must be compelled to apologize and make amends.
The eventual end result — getting smoked because the No. 12 seed within the first spherical by the second-best SEC staff — could also be inevitable. However what’s to not love about all these applications which have a shot to make it? Overlook Iowa State and the yr 2000; Military and Navy are each 4-0 for the primary time since 1945, because the Midshipmen continued to sling it round in a simple win in opposition to UAB. JMU adopted its 70-point outburst in opposition to North Carolina with a 63-7 win over Ball State. Sam Houston State, a double-digit underdog, upset Texas State to enhance to 4-1. Within the combine, all of them.
After which there are the UNLV Rebels, who lived a lifetime this week. Their beginning quarterback Matthew Sluka sparked an NIL-related firestorm, the college elected to spurn the Pac-12 and stay within the Mountain West, after which the staff went out and stomped Fresno State by a rating of 59-14. A lot for distractions.
The Rebels must be ranked within the AP Prime 25 come Sunday, together with fellow Mountain West foe (for now) Boise State, which unleashed Ashton Jeanty on Washington State to the tune of 259 yards and 4 touchdowns on 26 carries. Even with their last-second loss to Oregon, the Broncos are in all probability within the driver’s seat, with the caveat {that a} staff should win its convention championship to earn the G5 spot. However don’t neglect Tulane, which has two power-conference losses however crushed South Florida on Saturday, or 4-0 Liberty, which had its recreation in opposition to Appalachian State canceled resulting from Hurricane Helene.
5. Deciding the at-large bids shall be fascinating
Don’t lose observe of the at-large jockeying that can proceed to warmth up as we get deeper into league play. Seven at-large bids go to the best ranked groups that don’t win a convention championship. What number of will the SEC get? At the very least three, together with the automated berth, however in all probability 4? Possibly 5? Who from Alabama, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, LSU and Ole Miss will out?
Can Rutgers and/or Indiana, each nonetheless undefeated, really make some noise within the Large Ten alongside Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Michigan and USC? Washington State’s longshot hopes are in all probability useless after the loss to Boise State, however Notre Dame persists. Can anybody journey up Cam Ward and Miami within the ACC?
Some good groups will finally get omitted of the Playoff. The large distinction this season is that so many groups nonetheless have an opportunity proper now.
Besides Florida State. That ship has sunk.
(Picture: Chris Gardner / Getty Pictures)
